Microsoft in race to find new local leader

Microsoft Australia faces the very real prospect of heading into the new year without a leader after announcing that managing director Tracey Fellows will take up an Asia-Pacific role in less than three weeks.

Ms Fellows will relocate to Singapore later this month as the software giant’s new area vice-president following the sudden resignation of Emilio Umeoka. Microsoft said Mr Umeoka would “pursue a new career opportunity in the US, closer to his family".

A spokeswoman for Microsoft said Ms Fellows would make every effort to find a successor before taking up her new role on December 22. She said external candidates would be considered despite the urgent need to find a new country manager.

Ms Fellows has more than 20 years’ experience in information technology, including senior roles at Dell and IBM before joining Microsoft as a marketing executive in 2003. She has served as the managing director of its Australian operations for the past three years.

In Singapore, Ms Fellows will oversee sales, services and marketing for 12 countries including Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Korea and Vietnam. She will report to Microsoft’s international president, Jeanne-Philippe Courtois.